50-year-old man in court on 50 charges including sexual assault
A man has appeared in court on 50 charges including allegations that he had sex with a minor and that he sexually exploited a young girl.
Dublin District Court heard the 50-year-old from Dublin made no reply to the charges following his arrest this morning.
The accused sat in the dock with a hand to his face during the 10-minute hearing.
The charges date back to 2007. It is alleged that between March and June of that year, the 50-year-old man sexually assaulted a female in Co Donegal, and in two locations in Dublin, including one in a hotel car park at Dublin Airport.
It is also alleged that in February 2011 in Dublin, he engaged in a sexual act with a child who was under the age of 17.
There are 40 charges of sexual exploitation from 2008 to 2011. As a sample, one of the charges alleges that he invited, induced or coerced a girl to engage or participate in a sexual, indecent or obscene act.
Another relates to engaging in the production of child pornography.
The nature of the charges means that the man cannot be named.
Garda Edward Burke gave evidence that the accused made no reply to the 50 charges following his arrest in North Dublin just after 9am this morning.
There was no objection to bail, which Judge Cormac Dunne granted on the man's own €500 bond, with a €2,000 independent surety.
The court heard the DPP has directed trial on indictment, and the book of evidence will be served at his next court appearance on April 29, when a legal aid application is also expected.
